Sondra Forsyth, Founder and Artistic Director, began her in arts-in-education work in the 1980s when she was a Co-Director of the Huntington Ballet Theatre on Long Island. In 1992, after returning to Manhattan, she originated the Harkness Ballet Outreach program under the auspices of the 92^nd St Y and served as principal Teaching Artist for six seasons before leaving to found Ballet Ambassadors.

Sondra has served as a guest teacher for the American Ballet Theatre open classes and on the faculty of the School at Steps on Broadway, the SUNY Purchase Youth Ballet, the Harkness Dance Center of the 92nd Street Y, the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and Studio de Ballet Opera in Beirut, Lebanon. During her performing career, she danced principal and solo roles with Thalia Mara’s Ballet Repertory, the Huntington Ballet Theatre, the New York Dance Theatre, and Dance Vectors, a multicultural company in NYC. In addition to studying ballet and modern with top teachers, she has studied Character Dance (folk dance from around the world) as well as Flamenco, including castanets, while in Spain, and Chinese Classical Dance. Sondra is a Featured Blogger on Dance.com. Her articles have appeared in Dance Magazine, Dancer Magazine, and many major publications. She is the author or co-author of eleven books and holds an M.A. from Harvard.  

Bill Dyszel, Principal Character Actor and Associate Director, is a veteran of stage and screen. He was a baritone with the New York City Opera for fourteen years. He is a member of the Screen Actors’ Guild and he has appeared in several movies and numerous Off-Broadway plays. Bill is an award-winning filmmaker and the founder of CinemaSolo. Also an author, he has written 18 books. He holds a B.A. from Southern Illinois University.

Kerry Allen, Principal Character Actor and Wardrobe Mistress, brings to her roles extensive professional performing experience on the stage, the screen, and television. She began her career as a child in the role of Little Miss Snow in “Carousel” at the Allenberry Playhouse in Pennsylvania. Other credits include roles in “Anniversary Waltz,” “Love and Kisses,” and “Under the Yum Yum Tree” at the Omsky Magic Ring Theatre in Honolulu. Kerry’s first film was James Michener’s “Hawaii.” She is a member of the East Coast Stuntmen’s Association and her stunt work includes Jody Foster’s double in the film “Taxi Driver” and Joanne Woodward’s double in the TV film “See How She Runs.” Kerry also appeared in the films “Warriors” and “Just Tell Me What You Want” and on television in “Kojack,” Guiding Light,” “The Andros Target,” and numerous commercials.

DANCERS, in alphabetical order

Sophie Alpern began her training in NYC at the School at Steps and was subsequently accepted by audition into the prestigious School of American Ballet. She danced children's roles with the New York City Ballet for several seasons before returning to Steps to study with Leslie Browne, the former American Ballet Theatre principal dancer who starred in the film "Turning Point." In the spring of 2010, Ms. Alpern received her B.A. from Vassar College where she was a member of the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre. For the company's 28^th Annual Gala, she danced in George Balanchine's "Valse Fantasie" under the direction of renowned ballerina Merrill Ashley. Sophie continues to study at Steps with her mother, Nancy Bielski, an internationally known master teacher.

 

Lauren Jaeger is a member of the critically acclaimed Buglisi Dance Theater, a contemporary company that tours extensively here and abroad. She holds a BFA in Ballet Performance from Marymount Manhattan College which she attended on full scholarship. An alumna of the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance in Connecticut, she is a past recipient of the Patricia Schuster Scholarship. Ms. Jaeger appeared in numerous principal roles as a member of the Ridgefield Civic Ballet, Bare Bones Dance Project, Contemporary Dance Ensemble, and for the Danbury Music Centre's "Nutcracker." She is an experienced teacher who has held faculty positions at Ballet Hispanico, Manhattan School of Ballet, and Peridance.

Andrei Kisselev trained in his native Russia and performed for several years with the legendary Moiseyev Dance Company. He went on to join the cast of "Riverdance on Broadway" and later toured with the show for five years. He received a rave review in the New York Times for a performance with Rebecca Kelly Ballet. Andrei holds a degree in education from the College of Art in Vladimir, Russia. He is a Professor of Ballet at Manhattanville College.

Alice Murphy began her training with Sondra Forsyth and was accepted into the School of American Ballet at the age of eight. Throughout her childhood and teen years, she performed with the New York City Ballet. She was chosen by audition to dance the lead child’s role in “Still Life at the Penguin Café” with the Royal Ballet of England, and she attended prestigious summer intensives here and abroad. Alice holds a B.A. with honors from Goucher College where she was the Marvin Perry Scholar majoring in art history and minoring in dance.

Amy Schulster graduated with honors from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in Dance and Urban Design.  As a senior at NYU, Amy was chosen to dance in a piece choreographed by Karole Armitage of Armitage GONE! Dance. Upon graduation, Amy danced professionally with the Connecticut Ballet and the New Jersey Youth Ballet in principal roles. In New York City, she danced with the Lara Luzim Dance Project, Ess/DanceWorks, Contemporary Ballet Theater, and Eidolon Ballet.

Jill Schulster holds a BFA in Dance and Literature from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She received her ballet training here and abroad at Ballet Academy East, Valentina Koslova’s Dance Conservatory, and the Academie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace in Monaco, among others. Her professional performing credits include the Connecticut Ballet, Dances Patrelle, Bosov Ballet Theater, and Arts Ballet Theater of Florida. She is also an accomplished teacher and choreographer.

Dario Vaccaro received his training at Teatro Colon in his native Argentina. He has toured the world with Julio Bocca’s Ballet Argentino, Twyla Tharp Dance, and the David Parsons Dance Company. Currently the Dance Director of the Dicapo Opera Theatre in Manhattan, Dario has also danced with Jennifer Muller/THE WORKS. A talented choreographer, he has launched his own Dario Vaccaro Dance Project to rave reviews in the New York Times and the Village Voice after seasons at the Joyce Soho. He has also choreographed for Tango Vivo and The Infinity Dance Theatre.

Yana Volkova dances principal roles with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet at Lincoln Center. Prior to that, she was a featured dancer with her husband, Andrei Kisselev, in “Riverdance on Broadway” as well as the touring production. Yana has appeared on television here and abroad and she has extensive teaching experience. She was trained in the Vaganova Ballet Method in her native Russia by Valentina Narozhnaya and she holds a B.A. in Choreography, Ballet, and Character Dance from the Russian Academy of Theatrical Arts in Moscow.
 
DANCERS EMERITI, in alphabetical order

The following dancers have either moved out of state or gone on to other pursuits. We will never forget the great contributions they made as Teaching Artists and dancers with Ballet Ambassadors. All of them are welcome back as Guest Artists at any time!